Former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert indicted

FILE - In this June 19, 2006, file photo Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert adjusts his shirt collar during an engagement at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israeli legal authorities have indicted former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges. The indictments filed Sunday charge Olmert with illegally accepting funds from an American backer, double-billing for trips abroad. He faces charges including fraud and breach of trust. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer/file)
— AP

FILE - In this June 19, 2006, file photo Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert adjusts his shirt collar during an engagement at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israeli legal authorities have indicted former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges. The indictments filed Sunday charge Olmert with illegally accepting funds from an American backer, double-billing for trips abroad. He faces charges including fraud and breach of trust. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer/file)
/ AP

On the campaign trail, Olmert promised an aggressive push for peace with the Palestinians, and said in the absence of a deal, he would unilaterally withdraw from large parts of the occupied West Bank.

A gifted orator, Olmert crossed a series of taboos while in office – warning that Israel could become like apartheid South Africa if it continued its occupation of the Palestinians and expressing readiness to relinquish control of parts of the holy city of Jerusalem as part of a peace deal. Olmert led his government to the Annapolis peace conference in November 2007 – launching more than a year of ambitious, but unsuccessful peace talks with the Palestinians.

Despite his ambitious agenda, Olmert's term was clouded by an inconclusive war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon that took place just over a month after he took office. A series of corruption investigations – most of which were dismissed – also followed him.

The politically weakened Olmert announced his resignation last fall and stepped down in March after Benjamin Netanyahu won a parliamentary election. Olmert is currently out of politics and battling prostate cancer, but is widely rumored to be plotting a comeback.

Resounding elections setbacks have not kept Israeli politicians down for long. Both Netanyahu Defense Minister Ehud Barak both rebounded quickly from landslide losses at the polls.

Olmert's spokesman said his priority is to focus on his legal battle. "Once this is over and he has proved he is innocent, then he will consider what to do next. All options are open," he said.